Category: Opinion

Matagal nang natapos ang gulong ito ng isinulat ko to. It took time for me to take this all in. I didn’t think I would actually write anything because I didn’t want to add to the already deafening noise. Continue reading “Ito Ba Talaga Tayo?”

So I caught the first of 3 big interviews the NBA came up with in time for the All Star break, particularly the one with Ahmad Rashad and MJ. The other two were Ernie Johnson and Charles Barkley and finally Bill Simmons and Bill Russell.

Sadly the goddam thing was destroyed by too many commercials, a situation that thoroughly confuses me considering this is supposed to be cable tv. As a result I would occasionally get distracted because I would do other things in between like cook lunch or god forbid, work.

I did get some bits in though so it’s best to write about them before I forget.

This is an astoundingly belated post but am writing here anyway the Biometrics results of the recent PBA rookie draftees. Which is another way of saying I found the Excel file they sent me when I was cleaning up old files on my PC and thought three things: 1. ‘why the hell didn’t I post that?‘ 2.’this would do good SEO’ and 3.’why is there no date of birth?‘

The key to good writing is that you have to put your whole heart into it. Putting your heart into makes sure what you write is honest – a key requirement to making sure you do not produce bullshit. It makes you express yourself with clarity, conviction and truth. Without any of which you will just be taking up space.

The best times when you write with heart is when what you are writing about evokes emotion. It also happens to be when it is hardest, because you need to suspend your emotions long enough to make sense. That’s not to say that tears have to be streaming down your face as you write every sentence. You can write a very good technical article for example, or a point by point explanation of why you think the Mavericks will win another championship and still be entertaining.

If however you decide to, say, write about why the DLSU basketball program is superior over all other UAAP schools, and you happen to be a dyed in the wool green blooded La Sallian, then you will probably be writing with your heart, because it involves people, places and events that evoke memories and emotion.

Glee was showing a replay so the wife wasn’t competing for the TV, and I’m tired of watching Law & Order SVU (it’s gets to you eventually. So much violence and sick people in the world. I know its fiction but still, you know?), so I decided to concentrate on Meralco vs. Barako Bulls and resist changing the channel every so often. So here’s what I remember thinking:

Ang Galing Na Ni Ababou – Well not last night, but in previous games I caught him breaking out a few awesome moves, moves he never even gave a hint he was capable of back in UST. I’ve no doubt this is due from exposure he got from playing at Gilas. Sure he was sitting at the far end of the bench behind Lassiter and Lutz, but clearly he made the most of his time over there. The fact he warmed the bench per se might be reason for his blossoming, and may have challenged him on a personal basis. Whatever it might’ve been, this is indication he is the type of player that needs motivation to get going.

When I first heard about the lockout, I knew it was likely if not sure that there wasn’t going to be a season this year. The primary reason being that if there was anything I knew about the NBA, it’s that it’s run by egos. Not money, certainly not basketball, absolutely not the fans, but egos. Large, enormous and constantly yearning for attention. Not that other organizations aren’t. In fact, what I realized after reading so many books and studying players and teams for years, is that the NBA is like any other organization in that sense. Behind a polished facade and a professional stance are two constantly at odds parties – players and owners – who for years hurl things at one another when their backs are turned with everything they can pick up off the floor.

The battlecry for each party is very ego – driven, and it is summed up by the question: ‘Who is more important, the owner or the players?‘ Players will clearly say they are, because they’re the faces that the fans recognize. The fans will always side with players too, because fans know players, not owners. Owners of course, will always negate that, simply because they are the owners, whose money and initiative it was that started the team and formed the league in the first place. Clearly they are the ones who make the rules, right?

The item used to determine who wins this battle as it often is, is money. Money is quantifiable and has specific value. The problem with money however, is that while it can make you materially rich, it doesn’t necessarily mean you are respected, and in the NBA, everyone yearns for respect (I told you this is about egos, remember?). So what do people who earn lots of money but still do not feel respected do? They try to get more money. This is why rich people seem to have a bottomless need for more and more. Money, as it often is, is mistaken as the balm that soothes the ache that is caused by not getting respect.